ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate unilateral external fixation when applied as the standard treatment of displaced femoral shaft fractures in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2000 through 2004, we used a unilateral external fixator (Any-fix(R)) to treat 24 femoral shaft fractures. The average age of the patients was 8.3 years (range, 5.6 to 14.8). 16 fractures were isolated, and 8 were associated with polytrauma. There were 4 open fractures. Patients were followed clinically and radiologically until healing and at 1 year. RESULTS: Average time of external fixation was 97 days (range, 57 to 130 days). All patients regained the normal range of motion of knee joint without significant residual leg length discrepancy or growth disturbance. There were no nonunion, or rotationary deformities. There were 26 pin tract infection (total pin number: 108) (24%), all of which were resolved with antibiotics. No patient developed osteomyelitis. There were two refractures after fixator removal. There was one case of reduction loss and one of valgus deformity. CONCLUSION: The external fixation is a useful alternative for operative management of femoral shaft fractures because of minimal invasive operation, and early mobilization in prepuberty.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Congenital Abnormalities , Early Ambulation , External Fixators , Femur , Fractures, Open , Knee Joint , Leg , Multiple Trauma , Osteomyelitis , Reference ValuesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although there are growing evidences linking Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection to myocardial infarction, it remains controversial. The authors intended to assess whether C. pneumoniae infection is associated with myocardial infarction. METHODS: Sera and peripheral mononuclear cells (PMNCs) were collected from 54 cases of acute myocardial infarction (MI), 33 cases of old MI, and 60 normal controls. Anti-C.pneumoniae IgG and IgM antibodies were measured using a microimmunofluorescence (mIF) method, and C.pneumoniae DNA was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Seropositivity of anti-C.pneumoniae IgM antibody by mIF was shown 5.0% in control group, 29.6% (OR=8.00) in the acute MI and 6.1% (OR=1.23) in old MI group. Seropositivity of anti C.pneumoniae IgG antibody were 60.0 % in control group, 92.6% (OR=8.33) in the acute MI and 87.9% (OR= 4.83) in old MI group. The antibody titers in the acute MI and old MI group tended to be higher compared to those in control group. No C.pneumoniae DNA was detected in any case by PCR. CONCLUSION: The seropositivity and antibody titers were significantly higher in the acute MI and old MI group than in control group, suggesting that C.pneumoniae infection may be a risk factor for myocardial infarction.
Subject(s)
Antibodies , Chlamydial Pneumonia , Chlamydophila pneumoniae , Chlamydophila , DNA , Immunoglobulin G , Immunoglobulin M , Myocardial Infarction , Pneumonia , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is some evidence linking the infections with common organisms such as Chlamydophila pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Helicobacter pylori and HIV to myocardial infarction (MI). We had performed a serologic study to assess whether C.pneumoniae, CMV, H. pylori and HIV infections are associated with MI. METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 54 cases of acute MI, 33 cases of old MI, and 60 normal controls. C-reactive protein (CRP) as an inflammation marker was measured and antibodies to C.pneumoniae, CMV, H.pylori and HIV were assayed by ELISA. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated against control group. RESULTS: CRP was significantly higher in the acute MI and old MI group. ORs of C.pneumoniae infection increased considerably in the acute MI (IgM 1.57, IgG 4.80) and old MI group (IgM 2.42, IgG 5.18). ORs of CMV infection were 3.30 in the acute MI and 5.12 in old MI group. ORs of H. pylori infection showed below 1 in the acute MI and old MI. Anti-HIV antibody showed all negative result in three groups, so OR could not be calculated. CONCLUSION: C.pneumoniae and CMV infections appear to be risk factors for MI.
Subject(s)
Antibodies , C-Reactive Protein , Chlamydial Pneumonia , Chlamydophila pneumoniae , Chlamydophila , Coronary Artery Disease , Cytomegalovirus , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Helicobacter pylori , Helicobacter , HIV Infections , HIV , Immunoglobulin G , Inflammation , Myocardial Infarction , Odds Ratio , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
A newly developed third generation enzyme immunoassay(Lucky HCD 3.0 EIA) for hepatitis C virus(HCV) antibodies was added with the envelope(E1E2)/NS4 fusion proteins and expanded NS5 proteins as well as the core/NS3 fusion proteins. Authors evaluated the HCD 3.0 EIA with the previously available second generation EIA(HCD 2.0) in 10,435 Red Cross blood donors. Among 10,435 donors who were screened for the presence of HCV antibodies by HCD 2.0 assay, 22(0.21%) sera were repeatedly reactive. All of these sera were tested for further testing. Only 13 of all tested sera were reactive by HCD 3.0 EIA, and nine sera were not reactive. Nine of 13 HCD 3.0 positive sera were reactive by recombinant immunoblot assay(Lucky-Confirm). Also seven of these 13 sera had detectable HCV genomic RNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). None of nine HCD 3.0 negative samples had detectable immunoblot assay and HCV genomic RNA. It is concluded that the new HCV EIA can decrease a significant false positivity of second generation EIA in a blood donor population. This new assay correlates well with detection of HCV-RNA by RT-PCR and identifies donors who are truly infected.